1. The New Deal support, criticisms & lasting impacts

2. Support for the New Deal FDR took action Hoover wouldn’t; took necessary steps in time of need Put Americans back to work Restored faith in banks & stock market Broad spectrum approach hit Depression- ridden economy from many angles

3. Minority Groups Mixed support –Some New Deal programs still discriminated against women & minorities –Many minorities saw improvements & favored the New Deal in general African Americans –FDR appointed >100 AAs to gov’t jobs –Mary McLeod Bethune & the “Black Cabinet”

4. Mexican Americans –Most worked on farms in SW –Help from CCC & WPA in wages & rights (still faced discrimination & fewer benefits) Native Americans –Strong support from New Deal; full citizenship –John Collier = Comm. of Indian Affairs –Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 Restored NA independence Kept US gov’t from taking reservation land Children could go to school on reservations

5. Women –discrimination – lower pay, fewer hired; many still felt women should not be working (taking jobs from men) –advancements more married women employed by 1940 (15.6% up from 11.7%) women elected & appointed to gov’t jobs –Frances Perkins = 1 st female Cabinet member –female diplomats & federal judges

6. Workers/Labor Unions BIG supporters of FDR & New Deal Many reforms in workers’ rights & collective bargaining –Wagner Act (NLRB) - unfair practices; settled disputes –FLSA – set max hours & min wage; youth labor Union membership grew from 3mil (1933) to 10mil (1941); mostly coal miners & factory workers

7. Farmers Programs like AAA helped crop prices Bank programs helped avoid foreclosure TVA & CCC built up rural areas & helped restore the land

8. Opposition to the New Deal Not taking the right approach to fix economy (either too far or not far enough) Gov’t interfering with free market Deficit spending – spending more $ than the gov’t collects in revenue –FDR said this was a “necessary evil” at the time

9. Political Opponents Conservatives –Spending too much gov’t $ on direct relief –“Socialist” approach to business & the economy (free market wasn’t free anymore) –Gave too much power to the fed. gov’t Extreme liberals –Didn’t go far ENOUGH –Coughlin, Townsend, Long – all had plans that went even further to ensure relief & more even distribution of wealth

10. Supreme Court –struck down National Industrial Recovery Act (which created many New Deal programs) as “unconstitutional” Executive branch taking legislative power Federal interference in state affairs (labor/industry & farming) –FDR responded with “court-packing bill” Said for every SC justice over 70, he should be able to appoint another justice Would have allowed him to appoint 6 new justices Did not pass, but SC backed off New Deal programs somewhat

11. Lasting Impacts of the New Deal Wrapping up – By 1937, Great Depression deemed “ending” – Congress pressured FDR to scale back; he did; economy sagged (unemployment by 2.7mil by 1938); New Deal “over” by 1939 Gov’t role in industry & economic life – Creating fed. jobs – Regulating supply & demand – Gov’t intervention in labor (NLRB) – MUCH more gov’t spending to do these things – Programs like SSA still exist

12. Effects on banking & finance – More gov’t involvement & regulation – FDIC provides insurance for deposits; makes people confident in banks; keeps $ in banks & avoids panic – SEC monitors stock market & stock sales; public companies now required to give full disclosure on stock offerings; avoids uninformed speculation & reckless choices